The Spirit of Immanuel

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1 The Spirit of Immanuel A u g u s t Now there are varieties of Gifts, but the same Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:4 Immanuel Lutheran Church Worship Services Sundays, 10:00 am Sunday School 9:00 am for Pre-school through High School Adult Bible Study Weekly Fellowship Choir and Chimes Prayer Chain immanuelcolfax@hotmail.com Pastor Tom Krieger Interim Minister tomkrieger63@gmail.com Council President Dan Harms Danielharms1978@yahoo.com Church Secretary Cindy Wilson ckwilson1983@gmail.com We have been truly blessed in the history of Immanuel to have so many devoted mothers and fathers willing to give of their time and talents for our Sunday School programs. As we will soon be planning for another school year in the coming weeks, this article seemed appropriate for those who ever wondered why we have Sunday School programs. Sunday school s origins Sunday school began in England as early as Better known is Robert Raikes work in Gloucester 30 years later. Concerned about poor children who worked in factories six days a week and often turned to crime, he offered classes on the only day kids were free. Soon various organizations offered a loose network of such Sunday schools, which taught basic reading and writing, using the Bible as a text. Ten years later, Samuel Slater started the first U.S. Sunday school in his Rhode Island textile mills. By the mid-1800s, Sunday school attendance was an almost-universal childhood experience. As society became more secular and public education was mandated by the 1870s, Sunday schools focused on spiritual practices: prayers, hymns, catechism knowledge and Scripture memorization. Well into the 20th century, Sunday school served as the church s main outreach tool. Many adults fondly remember their teachers and lessons, and Sunday school continues to play a significant part in faith development. From the NewsletterNewsletter, August 2017 And for those who have been or ever will be a college student... This humorous illustration of how not to get along at college also demonstrates Jesus teaching in Matthew 7:3-5. A young man from Scotland went to study at an English university. A month into the school year, his mother visited and asked how he liked living in the dorm. It s awful! he exclaimed. The fellow in the room next door bangs his head on the wall constantly, and the one on the other side screams all day. How do you stand it? his mother asked in amazement. Oh, I ignore them, her son replied. I just sit here quietly, playing my bagpipes.

2 From the Interim Pastor Church Council Minutes June 12, 2017 ATTENDANCE: Dan Harms, Tracy Harms, Terry Bose, Mike Petersen, Elton Mau, Suzie Kukuck Dan Harms opened the meeting with prayer. Secretary s Report: The May 8 th minutes were read. Mike motioned to approve the minutes and Elton seconded. Motion carried. Financial Reports: Mike went over the April reports. Tracy motioned to accept and Terry seconded. Motion carried. Pastor s Report: Pastor was on vacation. We will approve his report at the July meeting. Celebrating our Partnership On Sunday, August 20th, following our 10:00 am Worship Service the members of Immanuel Lutheran Church and members of Trinity Lutheran Church will gather together at Immanuel to share a meal in Honor of Pastor Tom Krieger and our shared Ministry Agreement. Meats and Drinks will be provided along with table service. Others who are able are asked to help provide side dishes, salads, and desserts. Please plan to join us on this special day! Council Members Old Business: Shared the comments from the meeting with TLC council regarding Pastor Tom s salary package which will go into effect in July. New Business: Request from the Ridgeview Schools for assistance with school supplies. We will vote on this next month East door needs the trim replaced and hole on the floor plugged up. Caulking needs to be replaced around the south door by the organ VBS was once again a huge success Set up a church work day for Saturday, July 15 th beginning at 8:00 a.m. Elton made a motion to adjourn and Terry seconded. Motion carried. We closed with The Lord s Prayer. Next meeting will be Monday, July 10 th at 7:00 p.m. Respectfully submitted. Suzie Kukuck The church work day that was previously scheduled in July has been rescheduled for Saturday, August 26th beginning at 8:00 a.m. Anyone who is able to help in any way would be gratefully appreciated. Dan Harms Suzie Kukuck Elton Mau Mike Petersen Lindsey Rinkenberger Don Brucker Terry Bose Dan Kukuck Tracy Harms Parish Education Committee Louann Harms Jeanie Weber Yvonne Becker Rebecca Casson

3 From the Pastor Immanuel Lutheran Church Council has given Pastor Tom it s blessing to talk to the congregation about who is welcome to receive communion. Martin Luther wrote, Therefore let every household remember that it is their duty, by God s injunction and command, to teach or have taught to their children the things they ought to know. Since they are baptized and received into the Christian church, they should also enjoy this fellowship of the sacrament [of the altar] so that they may serve us and be useful. For they must all help us to believe, to love, to pray, and to fight the devil. 1 Only those who are confirmed may receive communion at Immanuel Lutheran Church. 15% of ELCA congregations still required that in 1990, down to 11% by The majority of ELCA congregations welcome people to receive earlier. I share with you reason to reconsider our practice. We do not wait for our children to ask for food before we feed them; we do not wait for our children to seek an education before teaching them; we do not wait for our children to ask for baptism before celebrating the newness of life in Christ that is God s gift in baptism. 3 If the uninformed, unaware babe-inarms can be graced by God without any cognizant participation in the sacrament which is administered once and once only, upon what basis do we, the church, exclude participation in that regular sacrament which nurtures and sustains the baptismal covenant? 3 the essence of covenantal relationship is God s faithfulness and does not depend upon our faithfulness. 3 And therein lies the Lutheran theological integrity for celebrating the sacraments. It is God s faithfulness, God s grace. We are recipients. Grace is grace; undeserved, unconditional love. It is never dependent upon what we understand or do. It is a means of God s love come to we sinners who cannot share in it except that God offer it freely. Everything we do - faith active in works of love - is a grateful response to the grace we receive. But wouldn t we do well to understand it before receiving it? If receiving God s grace, if receiving the sacraments, requires our understanding, then what of those who develop dementia or alzheimer s, what about those with limited learning ability, what about you and I how well do we truly understand the mystery of what God is doing in this sacred meal? The early church offered communion to all the baptized. With good intention, education was - and should be - given about the sacrament, but contrary to our theology, that education became the requirement. What is required? Is it anything more than being a child of God in need of God s grace? Could a practice like that at Trinity Lutheran Church, Fairbury be an acceptable compromise? Their invitation is all are welcome to receive communion at TLC, regardless of age or understanding. The decision to include or exclude their children is up to each family. Immanuel Lutheran Church will gather to talk about this after worship August 27 1 The Large Catechism of Martin Luther (1529) part 5 on the Sacrament of the Altar, para # ELCA Department for Research and Evaluation. 3 Lutheran Partners, Nov/Dec Owning Our Sacramental Theology by Stephen Goodwin and Lewis Groce.

4 Congregation Activities LWR Collections for 2017 Very soon we will be wrapping up another year of Collecting for Lutheran World Relief. Since there are a number of great sales on now, it might be a good idea to remind ourselves which items we collect. January/February Bars of soap (to be included in various kits) March Fabric Kits 3 yards of fabric, matching thread April/May Baby Care Kits - pajamas without feet, gowns, hooded sweatshirts, t- shirts, socks, receiving blankets, wash cloths, small towels. June/July Personal Care Kits Washcloth, towel, comb, nail clippers, toothbrushes August/September School Kits crayons, pens, pencils, notebooks, rulers, scissors, glue sticks, erasers, pencil sharpeners. Bags will be provided. QUILT TIME Our Next Scheduled Q u i l t i n g D a y i s Wednesday, August 9th from 8-11:00 am We always welcome anyone who is willing to tie layers of quilts together, assemble layers, or cut fabric throughout the year. Shoebox Project 11 Months of Operation Christmas Child (a reminder list of items) January - 1 or more plastic shoeboxes with lids February - a bar of soap and wash cloths March - toothbrush and toothpaste April - combs and brushes May - toys (balls, jacks, puzzles, musical items, jump ropes, slinkies, playdoh, small cars) June - toys, games, dolls, small stuffed animals July - t-shirts and hair care accessories August - school supplies (crayons, pencils, note pads, scissors, glue sticks, erasers, pencil sharpeners, markers, etc.) September - miscellaneous items (chapstick, bracelets, crafting beads, small board books, flip flops, socks, or anything else) October - to be announced after we sort what has already been collected November - candy, fruit snacks, gum, etc. (left-over Halloween candy on sale Nov. 1st) Volunteers are needed to assist patrons at the Fairbury Food Pantry on Thursday, September 21st starting at 4:30pm. We need 5 Immanuel volunteers from 4:30 to 7pm to fulfill our yearly rotation. Karen Harms will organize those who are available, as many may be in the fields at that time. HOP on for HOPE A Benefit Bicycle Ride for Village of Hope - Lifesong for Orphans will take place on Saturday, August 5th, starting at First United Methodist Church. For more information or registration contact Dick West ( or dickwest6858@aol.com). A flyer is also posted on the bulletin board at Immanuel. Biennial Convention The women of the ELCA in the Central/Southern Synod are invited to the Biennial Convention at the Lake Williamson Christian Center in Carlinville, IL on Friday and Saturday, October Information about events, cost, and registration can be found on the bulletin board at Immanuel or by contacting Pat Caley, ( or pbb2240@comcast.net).

5 August 2017 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Each Sunday - 9:00 am Fellowship 10 :00 am Worship Service 1 Tyler & Leeannn Bain 2 Gary Kessinger 3 Kyle & Amanda Calvert Annaliese Miller Noah Miller 4 Jason Wagoner 5 Delmar Miller 6 Kourtney Brucker 7 Tyler Harms Amy Winterland 8 Rich Johnson :00 am Quilting at Immanuel John & Cindy Harris 10 Karen Harms Janice Edwards Rick Winterland 13 Kyle & Missy Miller Adaline Calvert 14 7:00 pm Council Meeting Kara Richie 15 Courtney Feger Jerry Wilson Kirk Ummel Larry Poppe :00 am Work Day Renette Althouse Jeramey Breeding Lea Ann Watson Norman & Karen Harms Kevin & Karen Powell Jeramey & Jennifer Breeding Kyle Miller Jordan Pilgrim Acer Kratochvil Jerry Kukuck 27 Tracy Harms 28 Brittany Feger 29 Missy Miller Beginning Sept. 3 - Worship 8:30 am Sunday School 9:30 am Worship Assistants Date Reader Greeters Communion Ushers / Acolytes August 6 Erin Ifft Harlan Brucker, Matt Harms Denny & Amy Winterland Shannon, Alison R. Aug. 13 Angie Kratochvil Kent & Rebecca Casson Phil & Angie K. Aug. 20 Jerry Kukuck Dana & Sue Coldren Elton Mau, Jerry Kukuck Phil & Angie K. Aug. 27 Susie Kukuck Sheri Ganske, Sharon Hardesty Jerry & Susie K. Sept. 3 Elton Mau Mike & Leslie Garthaus Betty Petersen, Betty Powell Elton & Spring Mau Sept. 10 Mike Petersen Kevin & Louann Harms Elton & Spring Mau

6 Immanuel Lutheran Church PO Box E North Road Colfax, Illinois Newsletter information or member phone & address changes may be sent to Cindy Wilson at